BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO
The unfortunate reduction in the initial size of Naze/Nekede/Poly/Ihiagwa/FUTO road designed by former governor Rochas Okorocha to Four lanes from Naze roundabout down to Obinze FUTO junction that connects to Owerri/Port Harcourt road is a thing of cry to the users and a thing of shame to the leaders and rulers of these communities involved.
9News Nigeria investigated thoroughly the possible cause of the reduction of this road and found out that the traditional rulers and political leader from these areas got involved in the discussion that led to its reduction.
This was done in a negotiation held with the former contractors handling the road to reduce its size. They also went to the governor then to request for its reduction to gain the interest of the artisans whose markets are littered on this road.
Information has it that the former PDD governor did not understand the reason behind this but went ahead to reduce the size of the road from Maternity Bus stop down to Obinze junction.
9News heard that the road was originally designed by Ndubuisi Kalu the first governor of Imo state and governor Mbakwe followed the design but could not establish it until it got down to Rochas Okorocha whose interest then was to bring on board the vision to reality but was stunted.
Houses are built on the originally designed rail lines in these areas and the same government was said to have given approvals for buildings.
Surprisingly, the fuel and gas stations cited along this road are very close to residential areas and the government has kept deaf ears. This has caused a series of gas/fuel inferno along these areas.
The road actually was designed for a four-lane carrier which the then Okorocha brought to bear but regrettably truncated by Ihedioha.
By the inception of the APC government, governor Uzodinma has shown commitment to working the road but the error is that the road if not dualized to four lanes cannot last for a period of four years.
It is a ripe time for the people of these areas affected by this backwardness in development to rise up and approach governor Uzodinma’s government to do the needful.
The students’ group rose up in their numbers to ask the traditional rulers, political leaders and community leaders from Nekede/Ihiagwa/Obinze to rise up and ask the government to help them.
They have also suggested that some supervisory work slots be given to the indigenous people from this area to enable them to monitor the standard of work done by the contractors.
The students however regretted the lackadaisical approach the community is giving the government who has come to work in their area.
Accordingly, Four(4) lanes are the best to be done on that particular road and that can only be done immediately since the people’s governor Uzodinma has decided to work on NAZE/NEKEDE/IHIAGWA/OBINZE road.
Meantime, the umbrella body in Nekede called Nekede Federated Union has a stake in this calling to help their area grow.
Four lanes are the best thigh that can happen to the said road than the two lanes considering the pressure the road bears.
The shanties along these roads should be removed to allow good to be done. Governor Uzodinma’s government is ready to help but the people have to say what they want pending the government’s policy to develop Imo state.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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